i love nyc
"As for New York City, it is a place apart. There is not its match in any other country in the world." –Pearl S. Buck
I have a love affair with New York City. It started in college when Kristin and I spent the summer between our junior and senior years doing internships at Martha Stewart's now-defunct mail order catalogue, Martha by Mail. I ate up every minute of that summer visiting museums, eating at restaurants and, most of all, just walking the city. I loved it so much that I moved back 6 months later when I was offered my first post-college job at Martha Stewart.
Later, after I got married, my husband relocated from the west coast to be with me in NYC. We thought we might stay another 2-3 years at the most; 2-3 years turned into six. We lived through 9/11 and felt like we had become New Yorkers.
Then we had our first daughter and city living was not quite as glamorous. Our "cozy" 1-bedroom walk-up was not exactly ideal for a stroller and I found myself becoming irritated at all the inconveniences that never used to bother me. We decided to accept admittance into a west coast law school and left the city that I loved.
I try to get back as often as possible, which is easier said than done with 3 small children. I just returned from an extended weekend and thought I'd share a few of my favorite spots. Note: I am completely leaving out shopping since I could go on and on and on......
FOOD (part 1)
City Bakery: 3 West 18th Street (between 5th and 6th). The food is too-die-for, all served cafeteria-style. I highly recommend a pretzel croissant (especially one right from the oven!) and a peanut butter cookie (not too sugary, the perfect consistency – my absolute favorite).
The Farmer's Market at Union Square: 14th Street and Broadway. Open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays, this market offers an amazing range of organic produce and baked items. My favorite things are a cup of fresh apple cider, an apple cider doughnut and a Honeycrisp apple. There's nothing like New York in the fall!
Magnolia Bakery: 401 Bleecker Street / Rockefellar Center / 200 Columbus Avenue. The Bleecker Street store is the original location, home to punk rock bakers mixed with homespun goodness. There used to be a bouncer at the door on weekends to control the crowds. I once got elbowed by an older woman pushing me out of the way to retrieve her cupcakes. I highly recommend an original white cupcake with pale pink frosting and a glass of milk. My husband likes the banana pudding with Nilla wafers. The uptown locations are much fancier but any will do – this is the original cupcake bakery.
FOOD (part 2)
Babycakes: 248 Broome Street (between Orchard and Ludlow). This is the antithesis to Magnolia Bakery and I had to try it for myself. Babycakes uses all-natural, organic ingredients and no white sugar. I couldn't imagine it living up to all the hype. Believe me, it does. The cupcakes are excellent and totally guilt-free.
Sarabeth's: 1295 Madison Avenue (at 92nd Street). The best place for brunch. I love the Farmer's Omelet and all of their muffins are excellent. I like this location because it is about 6 blocks from a freestanding Crewcuts.
Kelley & Ping: 127 Greene Street (between Houston and Prince). Excellent Asian / Thai food in a tres chic location (I always have a star sighting here – this time it was Kiefer Sutherland). I love the Bi Bim Bop.
;)
MUSEUMS
MOMA: 11 West 53rd Street. The building is beautiful since its redesign. I popped in the museum store to pick up a few things for my art-obsessed daughter.
The MET: 82nd Street and 5th Avenue. I love Vermeer and was excited to see his masterpiece, "The Milkmaid" which is on display until November 29th. After wandering through the museum looking at my favorite works, I needed a rest and had a "Gossip Girl" moment on the steps.
The Guggenheim: 1071 Fifth Avenue (at 89th Street). I am always amazed by the unbelievable architecture of this building – somehow the building always overshadows the art for me.
Now that you've heard my favorite NYC spots, I'd love to hear yours....
Blonde Designs
Click on the PDF file below for some additional listings of my favorite NYC spots. Hope it inspires many adventures in the city! –Angie
Reader Comments (15)
I <3 NYC, too!
Love the Met. :)
Ah, it hurts! We moved recently from New Haven to Utah and spent many a Saturday strolling the city.
Moma is spectacular! Other favorite museums are the Cloisters, the Whitney Museum, and the Pierpont Morgan Library. Beautiful. As for food, we love Otto, Mario Batali's trattoria that is a little more within our budget. And Murray's cheese...ahhh...I can always drop a lot of cash on cheese.
Great post!
I love your blog and NYC! Some of my favorites are: the hudson river park, the MoMa, The New Museum, Tartine, Westville, Fairway Market, One Girl Cookies, Cake Man Raven (best red velvet cake!!)
Wandering the streets with no where in particular to go. I love discovering in NYC--and there's always something new to discover.
I'm coming with you next time!!! I still have yet to see NYC.... don't faint...
I love to read your city view and compare it to my country view. The pumpkins are just as a big a thrill both places.
We just got back from NYC and will be relocating to CT next year. I can't wait. I always have to visit Tinsel Trading, Magnolia Bakery, Serendipity 3 and Milk & Cookies in Greenwhich. This trip we also hit Strand Books and Max Brenners Chocolate Bar. YUM!
ugh.....the longing......I LOOOOVE NYC. I could never claim to be the NYC girl you are but I have to go at least once a year and would go way more if I could. I love Central Park and too many other things to list but second to the shopping, I ADORE the theater. So glad you were able to get back :0)
I wonder if you know my cousin Erin. She worked for Martha, back in the day.
My family and I have just returned from NYC (coming from Sydney). It was an amazing holiday. My husband and I really enjoyed staying right in the city (so big and busy compared to Sydney). The museums and reastaurants were fantastic (we enjoyed many that you mentioned). The kids enjoyed Central park and the hot dogs bought on the streets the best.
We were also impressed with how clean the city is (no graffiti or dog poo!!).
We can't wait to return!!
Hi! I just found your blog and am loving it - it is for sure going on my "favorites' list. My family moved from NYC when we were expecting our 1st but we miss it everyday! Love the post and the assurance that living in the city with a child is not "glamorous" - it makes me not regret the move.
I love the corner deli on Grand and Crosby. So delish (and cheap!)
My husband and I are getting ready to visit NYC in a few weeks. What's bringing us there is that he is running the marathon (his 4th)! He has never been and I have been to NYC 3 times; however, I am as excited as the first time. I would LOVE to hear more from you and anyone else on what you would definitely recommend us doing. We think we for sure want to do the double decker bus tours around the city, but that is all we know for sure. I've already jotted down the restaurants that you LOVE and would again welcome anything else you have to offer. Thanks, your blog is great! ~Stacey
I just posted a 2-page PDF of some additional NYC must-see's that I love. Hope that helps. Let me know if you need anything else (I'm full of NYC suggestions! :) –Angie
Firstly, let me just say that I'm completely smitten with your blog and am adding it to my reader asap! As for New York, well the Big Apple and I have a long standing love affair. Everytime I go feels like the first time. Now that we travel with our children, it's an entirely new experience. We never miss the walk down Fifth Avenue to Central Park with a detour at FAO a must. They also love to ride the Staten Island Ferry (free!) and share a bag of popcorn as they ooh and aah the drive by around Lady Liberty. A hot dog and pretzel is always in order by the pier and mom gets to check out the beautiful produce and organic goods at the Fulton Street Market. And then there's Brighton Beach. We go because of family, but truly no place like it in the world. The Boardwalk, great murals, Coney Island, and a real knish. Yum! Wish I were there now!